Can’t keep your Alex Cross’s straight? Need to know the
title of Book 4 of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series?Find series lists in order here.

4. Find Your Reviewer Crush

Ever read a glowing book review, then read the book,
disliked it and wonder what went wrong? Take a different approach. Check out
some reviews of a book you’ve already read and see which critics’ or which
publications’ appraisal resonated most with you. Match made. Then follow that reviewer
or see what else they recommend. Me? I appreciate NPR reviews. Plus, they have
a great Tumblr page.

Mystery fans can browse this site by author name, character
name or by genre index: Cozy (Traditional) Mysteries vs. Gothic Suspense. Or,
you can pick mysteries set in a certain time period with their Historical
Index. Only like Victorian mysteries? Look no further.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Does it ever seem like kids have all the summer fun? Adults get
sweltering commutes, while kids get days at the pool, summer camp and plenty of
time to read just for fun. While the library loves to reward kids for their reading,
there are also lots of ways for adults to join in the library festivities this
summer.

When the Summer Reading Program kicks off on June 19, adult reading
programs will begin at many library branches as well. This year adults can read
to earn coupons at some branches for use in their ongoing book sales or for a
chance to win prize drawings. Contests include a variety of reading challenges, from
reading bingo to identifying the first lines of famous books. Requirements and
rewards will vary at participating branches, so check our calendar of events to
find an adult summer reading program near you.

Library events aren’t just for kids this summer either. We’ve got all
kinds of books clubs and reading groups for adults. But you’ll also find a
variety of special programs, from poetry read-arounds and seminars exploring
the intricacies of foreign policy decisions to an inside look into a paranormal
investigation. As always, we’ve also got fabulous events planned for preschoolers,
kids and teens this summer. So check our online calendar of events or pick up a
copy of the summer calendar at your local branch or view it online to see what’s happening.

Don’t forget to pick up a reading log or sign your kids up online for
the Summer Reading Program--Read to the Rhythm. Children up to sixth grade read
15 books and teens in grades 7-12 read six books to earn a coupon booklet with
great prizes including free and discounted items. Make sure they complete their
reading and visit a local library branch to pick up their prize by September 5.

Communities that read together grow strong together. Be a reading role
model for the kids in your community this summer – we’ll make it worth your
while!

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

There are times in life when the right book comes along at the
right time, and it feels like a tremendous gift. Caring for an elderly or
disabled family member is something more Americans are experiencing as the
population ages. Here are two highly acclaimed recent books on the subject
as well as two classics.

In Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?, cartoonist Roz Chast uses the graphic novel
format to narrate the years she spent as an only child looking after her parents
who lived in their Brooklyn apartment well into their nineties. What makes
Chast's book such a stand out is her rare ability to mix humor with sensitivity,
expressing the poignancy of coping with the decline of the
people we love – but who also drive us crazy sometimes.

What matters most to people in the final stages of life, and how
can we honor that? In Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, surgeon Atul Gawande explores his personal
and professional experiences with family members and patients who were nearing
the end of life. With great insight and empathy, he steps out of the conventional
role of the doctor, looking beyond medical options to their goals and
priorities. Gawande suggests many ways we can improve the future of caregiving
in America.

In the classic realm, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor
Frankl offers wisdom on living with purpose even during painful times. Frankl,
a Viennese doctor, survived several concentration camps during the Holocaust and
went on to finish his treatise on logotherapy, a form of therapy designed to
help people discover and pursue meaning in their lives. The suffering he
endured and witnessed only reinforced his belief that the pursuit of meaning is
central to the human condition.

Also rising to the level of a
classic in this area is When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold Kushner. A rabbi who lost his young son to
a rare disease, Kushner was inundated with people seeking his commiseration and
guidance: why do bad things happen to good people? Kushner draws upon his study
of historic and religious texts to help others process some of life’s most
difficult questions.

Wednesday, June 03, 2015

You may
already be familiar with Kate Atkinson from the popular Life After Life (2013) and
its companion piece A God in Ruins(2015). But you may not be familiar with her Jackson Brodie mystery series,
including One Good Turn. They are
worth a read as well. A selection of the stories have been turned into a Masterpiece Mystery television
production and are available at the library on DVD.

Amid the bizarre events of the Edinburgh Festival, an incident of
road rage occurs. It is witnessed by many people - in particular by quietly
percolating Gloria (wife of shady developer Graham), her loyal friend Pam,
Jackson Brodie (a suddenly-wealthy policeman) and Martin (a yearning–to-be-loved mystery writer). Each reacts to the accident differently, but a laptop
sailing through the air hitting the man wielding a baseball bat sends events
rippling throughout the book to the gasp of the last sentence.

Like the magic appearance of yet another matryoshka doll, the plot
twists and doubles back endlessly working its way around money-laundering, a
dominatrix, a troupe of actors, a pregnancy test, an attack dog, failed
marriages and yes, a body dumped from a hotel window. Figures flit at the edge
of your visions, and you catch a glimpse of their disappearing coattails. And
no good deed goes unpunished.

But amid the dark delight of all this action there is a quiet
center of human frailty and kindness. Though Ms. Atkinson writes with a
wry pen, you realize how wisely she observes life with both its triumphs and
disappointments.One Good Turn – deserves
another read.